How many dhol shops have you seen in the city? Where would you expect them to be? Certainly not at the intersection of Korangi and Landhi Industrial area! Well, there is the surprise for you. There are not one but three dhol shops there.

“Why here?”, I could not resist asking the shopkeeper when I met him
“They have been here for a while, since 80’s”, The shop keeper was not old enough to confirm if they were there before that.

If you are heading to Landhi Industrial Area from Korangi bypass at Qayumabad, you will find it at the end of straight road crossing through the heart of Korangi. The road turns right heading to the busiest intersection in Karachi which connects Korangi, Landhi and Quaidabad. Few helpless traffic policemen try to manage cargo trucks, crowded public transport, bikes and other vehicles with little success. Life is void of inspiration here. The shops here sell grocery, medicine, religion and bamboo ladders. Graffiti on the walls say foul things about a neighbouring country and few countries far away. The whole area is dusty. The road is bumpy. The whole setting is very depressing. Here between all that depression you would find two or three shops selling dhols and services as band masters. The dhols are hooked outside on bamboos, in front of the shops.

“I want to stop here”, I informed the friend who was driving.
“This is insane. This area is known for mobile snatching”, My friend protested

We made the stop there. The shop keeper was more than welcoming.

“We don’t make dhols here. We buy them from Punjab, Sialkot etc. The small one in red color is for Rs. 2200”, he started explaining

“I have a certificate from Army Band Training Center in Abbotabad”, He proudly told me and stood up to give a live performance. He was loud!

The place was carpeted and had Gao Takyas. It is a popular hangout for near by shopkeepers.